Doctor Charged With Child Sex Abuse Material Found Dead In Burned Home Days After Arrest | Crime Alert 6AM 12.31.25
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline
3.9 • 7.6K Ratings
🗓️ 31 December 2025
⏱️ 7 minutes
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Summary
A 46-year-old Alaska cardiologist charged with possessing child sex abuse material was found dead inside his burned Wasilla home just one day after his release on bond, as investigators continue to determine how the fire and his death occurred. A Christmas Day drive through the Sierra nearly ends in disaster when an SUV spins out on icy Highway 50 and hangs over a steep drop, until an Air Force staff sergeant rushes in and helps save the trapped couple. A quick-thinking Long Island seventh grader escaped through a window and called 911 after realizing a burglar had broken into his home, leading police to arrest the suspect within minutes. Drew Nelson reports.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Crime Alert, I'm Nancy Grace, an Alaska doctor previously named to the state's medical board, |
| 0:05.9 | found dead in his burned-down home just days after his arrest on child sex abuse materials. |
| 0:14.5 | Authorities first believe Ryan McDonough. |
| 0:16.9 | 46 is missing after discovering other residents escape the fire upon further investigation. |
| 0:22.9 | His remains found in the home. |
| 0:24.8 | Straight out to Drew Nelson for more. |
| 0:28.1 | Nancy, the fire destroyed the family home of Ryan McDonough on West Discovery Loop in Wasilla |
| 0:33.2 | just one day after he was released from jail on a $50,000 cash bond posted by his wife. |
| 0:40.1 | Alaska State Troopers now say preliminary identification confirms the charred body found in the house is McDonough. |
| 0:47.0 | The state medical examiner is still working to determine his cause of death. |
| 0:51.5 | Investigators say the origin and cause of the fire also remain under investigation. |
| 0:56.9 | Fire crews arrived to find the home fully engulfed. Authorities confirmed McDonough was the only |
| 1:02.1 | person inside at the time as the other residents escaped unharmed. The discovery comes just days |
| 1:08.5 | after McDonough pleaded not guilty to the child sex abuse material |
| 1:12.2 | charges during an initial court appearance. He had been arrested as part of a joint, |
| 1:16.9 | local, state, and federal investigation. Court records show the alleged material was uncovered |
| 1:22.9 | after tips were sent to the National Center for missing and exploited children. |
| 1:30.8 | Neighbors described the shock rippling through the Wasilla community. |
| 1:33.2 | Some of them declining to speak to reporters. |
| 1:38.5 | Others say they were disturbed by the allegations tied to a man they believed lived a quiet life in the neighborhood. |
| 1:39.8 | Wasilla resident Damon Blankenship speaking to KTUUU. |
| 1:43.7 | Angry. Seems so predominant in our world today. |
... |
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